Total U.S. Housing Starts Projected to hit 1.18 Million in 2016

Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company, announced today the release of its second quarter 2016 Home Building Outlook detailing housing construction trends nationwide. The Home Building Outlook is the platform for Metrostudy’s national and local forecasts, spotlighting the Top 100 Housing Markets across the United States.

The second quarter update indicates U.S. Housing Starts are expected to advance gradually to hit 1.18 million this year, with 813,000 of those being single family homes as defined by the Commerce Department. Multi-family housing starts are expected to decrease slightly to 375,000 as it begins to take a back seat to the recovery in single family homes. Metrostudy’s proprietary survey database, which consists of data from over 100 CBSAs and consists of hand-counted lots and newly occupied homes, indicates move-ins were 10.1% higher in the second quarter of 2016 than a year earlier, while new housing starts rose 13.9%.

Nationwide new home sales as defined by the Commerce Department are expected to increase 12.8% to 565,000 this year, up from the 501,000 reported in 2015.

The best overall new home markets are Denver, Boise, Sarasota/Bradenton in Florida, and Salt Lake City in terms of health and local new home sales forecast. The sunbelt dominates in terms of sales volume, with the largest new home markets expected to be Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Atlanta.

“The U.S. housing market continues a steady expansion,” says Mark Boud, Chief Economist, Metrostudy. “We expect similar gradual growth in volume for the next several years, but with slower price gains, especially in the new home sector. Single family construction is finally expanding more quickly than multi-family, an expected eventuality as the market recovery matures.”

Metrostudy produces the Home Building Outlook to provide the building industry with visibility into local residential construction activity as well as official national forecasts.

About Metrostudy
Metrostudy is the leading provider of primary and secondary market information to the housing and residential construction industry. Metrostudy’s actionable business intelligence informs investment decisions that mitigate risk and grow revenue for builders, developers, lenders, suppliers, retailers and manufacturers. It’s the construction industry’s only integrated data intelligence solution supported by the most extensive U.S. geographic coverage. Learn more at Metrostudy.com.

About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood is the premier company serving the information, media, and marketing needs of the residential, commercial design and construction industry. Utilizing the largest analyticsand editorially driven Construction Industry Database, the company provides business intelligence and data-driven services. The company produces award-winning media, high-profile executive events, and strategic marketing solutions. To learn more, visit hanleywood.com.